Thinking about building a new home in Christchurch or Canterbury? This is your ultimate guide to everything you need to know, from subdividing or buying your section and house and land packages through to budgeting and more!
1. Finding The Right Section
The first step when building a new home is finding and purchasing the land. A piece of land that you like and that appears ready for building on may not always be straightforward from a building perspective, which is why it is a good idea to involve a local builder. Think of it as a pre-sale inspection, just as you would for buying a car – it will likely save you money in the long run! But in the meantime, here are some tips on finding the perfect section.
- Location Matters. This includes paying attention to the city, town, suburb and even street. Look around in the area you’re considering and then choose the piece of land that most appeals to you and offers convenience. How far away is work? If you have children, how far is the school? How’s the security? The site might be great, but if it is not convenient, then it just won’t work in the long run.
- Consider Orientation? Which direction does the section face? How much sun will it get? Can you build a house on it that will make the most of the sun?
- Check Sizing. Is the section big enough? Make sure your planned home will fit comfortably onto the piece of land, and consider extra space for gardens and entertaining too.
- Do Your Research. This includes investigating things like soil stability, slope, elevation and architectural guidelines. Getting a geotechnical report will enable you to know the condition of the site, determine foundation requirements, and what changes you’d need to make to your design/budget before the build commences.
- Stick To The Budget. Choose something you can afford. If you don’t have enough money, don’t buy the land. There is no need to spend too much money on a piece of land and reduce the overall budget to the point where you cannot complete the build.
- Investigate The Available Services? The services being offered and how much they cost to install are also important factors. Find out whether water, power, broadband and phone services are readily available, if they are at the boundary, and how much it will cost to get them across to the house. Also check for things like rubbish disposal and recycling services.
2. Subdivision In Christchurch
For some, subdividing off an existing piece of land can be an attractive option for building a new house instead of buying a new section. There are 5 basic stages to subdividing land in NZ, these are:
- Consent. The initial stage of subdividing involves getting consent from the local council, which will in turn, provide you with specific requirements necessary for the approval. This can include things like access and covenants.
- Approval. For final approval, you will need a licensed surveyor to submit your plans. You’ll also need your lawyer or conveyancing company to put together the legal documents required.
- Certification. Certification must be lodged with the Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), stating that the territorial authority has approved the survey plan and all of the conditions of the subdivision consent have been complied with.
- LINZ Approval. All legal title documents and the survey plan must be lodged with Land Information New Zealand for approval.
- Certificate Of Title. The existing title on the land is cancelled, and individual certificates of title are issued for each new parcel of land shown on the survey plan.
Land subdivision in Christchurch can be profitable, but it also requires expertise. If you are considering land subdivision as a method of investment, it is best to consult with a professional.
3. Matching Your House And Section
When it comes to building your new home, it’s not just about getting the right section; designing your house to fit the section is just as important. While many sites on property developments are quite straightforward in terms of topography (slope and lay of the land), other sites can be a bit tricky.
If possible, always find your section first, then design the house to fit the section, or at the very least, consider tweaking your design to best fit the site. Be aware if the land you are building on is not yet fully developed, you’ll need to do your research. This research involves engineering, geotechnical, zoning, access to utilities and more.
Sometimes you hear stories about people purchasing a section without the necessary research done to ensure its suitability for building. Imagine having to add $50,000 in unforeseen engineering and earthworks to the price of a section! It’s happened before and can interrupt the dreams of homeowners – especially if the budget really matters. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when fitting your house plan to your new section.
- The permitted size and height of the property
- Setbacks in relation to the boundary
- Local Council regulations
- Covenants in place on the land/section
- Slope of the land (if any)
4. House Plan Options
Once you have an idea of the topography of the piece of land, you can look at incorporating it into your home design as well, or landscape the property before you begin building. If you already have an existing plan, there may be some changes needed so it will suit the piece of land you have chosen, or you may decide to design a custom home plan – the choice is up to you!. The most common house design options here in NZ are:
- Design your own
- Choose from existing house plans
- Use existing house plans and tweak them
- Have a bespoke or custom design developed just for you
Read our handy guide to choosing your house plans here.
5. What About House And Land Packages?
Demand for house and land packages in Christchurch and Canterbury is high due to the rapid rise in new housing developments. Investing in a house and land package could be a viable alternative for all kinds of buyers, including first-home buyers with limited budgets or investors looking to earn increased rental values on their properties.
With house and land package deals, clients can still get some degree of flexibility in making some of the key decisions for the build, which may include choosing from pre-existing designs or creating them to meet their specific needs.
What Are House And Land Packages?
There are two types of house and land packages; turnkey house and land packages are what most people think of when considering the package deal, and just plain house and land contracts.
- Turnkey Packages. Turnkey homes are where you pick from the sections and selection of house designs made available by the building company offering the package. Turnkey packages usually only require a small upfront deposit, with the building company carrying the cost of the build until they hand over your completed home, and you pay the agreed price. This option is great for those who want to rid themselves of any of the financial pressure and stress of building a new hom,e but you are usually limited to certain sections and house designs due to the fixed pricing model.
- House And Land Contracts. With plain house and land contract deals, you are expected to purchase the land up front and then select your house plan or customise a plan and proceed with a fixed price construction timeline payment schedule. This will mean a succession of ‘progress payments’ as the build continues, which usually include Deposit, Frame Up, Roof On, Lock Up, Fixtures And Fittings, and Practical Completion.
Benefits Of House And Land Packages
While saving money may be the motivating factor for many house and land deals, there are some other benefits that may interest you. Here are our top 4.
- Better Rental Returns. For property investors, newly built homes attract high-quality tenants, and you can optimise the design to suit the rental plan you have in mind. Renters also tend to be longer-term when compared to older houses because of the level of comfort. They know that the house is in its best possible condition.
- Lower Maintenance Costs. Minimising maintenance issues is a big one, not just for investors but homeowners as well. Building new means spending less time on cleaning, repairing or the general upkeep that’s inevitably required with an existing home.
- Set Pricing. The cost of the combination build and section is usually quite up front. This allows for better budgeting and is great for buyers who require pre-approved finance. House and land packages and turnkey solutions are one of the easiest and fastest ways to buy a home that can be tailor-made to suit your needs.
- Fewer Additional Costs. In many cases, professional interior designers and architects are involved in every aspect of the design, which ensures a high-quality product without the costs associated with hiring these consultancy services individually.
6. Budgeting For Your New Build
When you’re in the planning phase of your new home, budgeting is a very important step. You should be smart about budgeting and always set aside a little extra for unforeseen costs. If you plan thoroughly from the start, you are going to more likely be able to cope with unexpected occurrences later on. Avoid budget blowouts on your new build with these 4 helpful budget tips.
- Be Realistic. When planning the budget for your home, you need to be realistic with costs and your expectations, always allow some wiggle room. Once you’ve discussed your project and budget with your builder or architect, they will be able to confirm that the building’s cost will be within your budget. Fixed price contracts are a good option if you are in a position where you need to know the final cost up front.
- Plan, Plan, Plan. One of the most common ways to blow the budget is by failing to plan. Consider all the details, break the costs down into categories like section, house, driveway, landscaping etc, and set a budget for each category. Try to include everything you can think of and do some research or get quotes to find out how much everything will cost.
- Stick To The Original Design. Remember to try and stick to the plans as per your original layout and design. Any changes you make once the build has begun are going to have an impact on your building budget, so be well-informed before you make them. Most building companies label these kinds of mid-build changes “Variations” and they will incur additional fees.
- Avoid Scope Creep. A hundred dollars here or there might not seem like much at the time, but ‘scope creep’ (small incremental spending over and above what was budgeted for) can completely blow your budget without you even realising. This means opting for slightly more expensive carpet, or choosing to upgrade the appliances, for example – once you have your budget set, stick to it.
7. Building On The Port Hills
If you’ve thought about building a new home in Canterbury, then you may have considered building on the Port Hills. The good news is there are many new innovations in building today that allow you to make use of varying topography to build a unique home that fits the section.
As well as stunning views, building on the Port Hills can allow you to enhance natural features in your home and build something special that can be easily blended with the landscape. When you work with nature, you can make use of natural ventilation and sunlight as well as building to enjoy the natural scenery around you with the stunning views of Christchurch and beyond.
If you are intending to build on the Port Hills in Christchurch, it is important to choose your builder carefully. They should be experienced in this kind of build and have geotechnical engineers, architects and designers who are also experienced with this type of building project. More on how to choose the right builder here.
Well-trained, experienced people will be able to predict any possible issues and work at counteracting the problems before the build starts. Split-level homes and other innovative designs for a sloped property means your home can stand out from the rest. Using the slope and building your house with the flow of the land means you get to use more of your section.
Final Thoughts On Building In Christchurch
Having your perfect home in your ideal location makes all the effort of building your own home worthwhile. Playing the most important role in whether you have a positive experience or not is the home builder that you choose. This important decision should be made after careful consideration and research. Various qualities of the company that you choose should include: a successful track record, a portfolio of past projects, and helpful and reliable customer service. Look for qualified people who demonstrate excellent communication skills, and who understand your vision and that you feel you can work together with over the long term.
Builders and designers can assist you with advice that will help your project stay within the budget. They also know cost-cutting strategies to keep costs down during the building phase. More on how to choose the right builder here.
At JAR Builders in Christchurch, we are trusted experts providing housing solutions in Christchurch and around the Canterbury region. We can help you through the entire build process; this includes everything from choosing your land, drawing up your custom house plan and taking you through the build process. We’d love to show you what we do and learn about your next dream home! Give JAR Builders a call today!
